Clitus

Discussion

Discussion

Statilius was sent to find a way through the enemy’s lines. He signaled that he had found a way, but the fact that he has not returned indicates that he has either been killed or taken prisoner.

Brutus

Sit thee down, Clitus. Slaying is the word;

[Enter Brutus, Dardanius, Clitus, Strato, and Volumnius]

Brutus

Come, what is left of my friends, let's rest on this rock.

Clitus

Statilius signaled us, my lord, but he hasn't come back. He's either been captured or killed.

Brutus

Sit down, Clitus. Killing is the most likely, it seems to be in fashion. Listen, Clitus.

[Brutus whispers to Clitus]

Clitus

What, me, my lord? No, I would not for the whole world!

Brutus

Quiet, then. No more words.

Clitus

I would rather kill myself.

It is a deed in fashion. Hark thee, Clitus.

[Brutus whispers to Clitus.]

Clitus

What, I, my lord? No, not for all the world!

Brutus

Peace then. No words.

Clitus

I'll rather kill myself.

Brutus

Hark thee, Dardanius!

[Brutus whispers to Dardanius.]

Dardanius

Shall I do such a deed?

Clitus

O Dardanius!

Dardanius

O Clitus!

Clitus

Brutus

I'd like a word with you, Dardanius!

[Brutus whispers to Dardanius]

Could I do such a deed!

Clitus

Oh Dardanius!

Dardanius

Oh Clitus!

Clitus

What terrible request did Brutus make of you?

Dardanius

To kill him, Clitus. Look, he's thinking.

Clitus

His noble body is so full of grief that it's spilling out of his eyes as tears.

What ill request did Brutus make to thee?

Dardanius

To kill him, Clitus. Look, he meditates.

Clitus

Now is that noble vessel full of grief,

That it runs over even at his eyes.

Brutus

Come hither, good Volumnius, list a word.

Volumnius

What says my lord?

Brutus

Why, this, Volumnius:

The ghost of Caesar hath appeared to me

Two several times by night — at Sardis once,

Brutus

Come here, good Volumnius, listen to me.

Volumnius

What is it, my lord?

Brutus

It's this, Volumnius. Caesar's ghost appeared twice to me in the night—once at Sardis, and here in Philippi last night. I know my time is up.

Volumnius

No it can't be, my lord.

Brutus

No, I'm sure it is, Volumnius. You can see how things are going, Volumnius. Our enemies have driven us to the edge of an abyss.

[Low trumpet calls]

And, this last night, here in Philippi fields.

I know my hour is come.

Volumnius

Not so, my lord.

Brutus

Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius.

Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes.

Our enemies have beat us to the pit.

[Low trumpets.]

It is more worthy to leap in ourselves

Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius,

Language

"beat us to the pit"

[Click to see note.]

Language

"beat us to the pit"

In some hunts, servants beat pans or drums to drive the game toward a camouflaged pit. Brutus is saying that the enemy has driven them to their certain deaths, and that they should die by their own hands.

Thou know'st that we two went to school together.

Even for that our love of old, I prithee

(Brutus)

It would be more noble of us to leap into that void ourselves than hang on until they push us in. Good Volumnius, you know we went to school together. For that old friendship, please, hold my sword's hilt while I run into it.

Volumnius

That's not a job for a friend, my lord.

[Trumpet calls still]

Clitus

Run, retreat, my lord, we can't wait here.

Hold thou my sword-hilts whilst I run on it.

Volumnius

That's not an office for a friend, my lord.

[Trumpets continue.]

Clitus

Fly, fly, my lord, there is no tarrying here.

Brutus

Farewell to you; and you; and you, Volumnius.

Strato, thou hast been all this while asleep;

Performance

Lines 33-42

[Click to launch video.]

Farewell to thee too, Strato. — Countrymen,

My heart doth joy that yet in all my life

Brutus

Farewell to you, and you, and you, Volumnius. Strato, you've been here asleep all this time. Farewell to you too, Strato. My fellow Romans, my heart is glad, even now, that in this life I knew so many true friends. I will have glory on this day of defeat, more glory than Antony or Octavius will get from this vile conquest. So farewell to all of you at once, for my tongue has almost said its last words. I am weary with life, my eyes are tired, and my bones want to rest. My body has worked hard just to reach to this hour.

I found no man but he was true to me.

I shall have glory by this losing day,

More than Octavius and Mark Antony

By this vile conquest shall attain unto.

So fare you well at once, for Brutus' tongue

Hath almost ended his life's history.

Night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest,

That have but labored to attain this hour.

[Trumpets sound. Cry from off stage, 'Fly, fly, fly!’]

Clitus

Fly, my lord, fly!

Brutus

Hence! I will follow.

[Exeunt Clitus, Dardanius, and Volumnius.]

I prithee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord.

Thou art a fellow of a good respect;

Thy life hath had some smatch of honor in it.

[Trumpet call. Cry off stage, 'Fly, fly, fly!']

Clitus

Retreat, my lord, retreat!

Brutus

Go forth from here, I will follow you.

[Exeunt Clitus, Dardanius, and Volumnius]

Please, Strato, stay here with your lord. You are respected. Your life has some honor in it. So hold my sword, and look away while I run into it. Will you do this, Strato?

Strato

Give me your hand first. Farewell, my lord.

Brutus

Farewell, good Strato.

[Runs on his sword]

Caesar, your spirit can rest, you have been revenged. I didn't want to kill you nearly as much as I want to kill myself.

Strato

Brutus

[Runs onto his sword and dies. Trumpets sound the call to stop pursuing the enemy. Enter Octavius, Antony, Messala, Lucilius, and the army.]

Octavius

[Indicating Strato] What man is that?

Messala

My master's man. Strato, where is thy master?

Strato

Free from the bondage you are in, Messala;

Wordplay

"free"

[Click to see note.]

Wordplay

"free"

This line has two possible interpretations:

Brutus is free; he hasn't been taken prisoner like Messala.

Being dead, Brutus is free from any earthly constraints; all his conquerors can do is cremate his body.

The conquerors can but make a fire of him.

For Brutus only overcame himself,

Octavius

Who's that man?

Messala

It's Brutus' servant. Strato, where is Brutus?

Strato

He's free from the captivity you are in, Messala. The conquerors can only burn his body now. Brutus alone defeated himself; no other man will receive honor from his death.

Lucilius

This is how a noble man like Brutus should be found. Thank you, Brutus; you proved my words of praise to be true.

Octavius

I will take into my service everyone who served Brutus. You, fellow, will you serve me?

And no man else hath honor by his death.

Lucilius

So Brutus should be found. I thank thee, Brutus,

That thou hast proved Lucilius' saying true.

Octavius

All that served Brutus, I will entertain them.

Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me?

Strato

Ay, if Messala will prefer me to you.

Octavius

Do so, good Messala.

Messala

How died my master, Strato?

Strato

Strato

Yes, if Messala will recommend me to you.

Octavius

Do so, good Messala.

Messala

How did Brutus die, Strato?

Strato

I held the sword and he ran onto it.

Messala

Then take him on as a follower, Octavius, for he performed the last service for Brutus.

I held the sword and he did run on it.

Messala

Octavius, then take him to follow thee,

That did the latest service to my master.

Antony

Performance

Lines 69-76

[Click to launch video.]

This was the noblest Roman of them all.

All the conspirators save only he

Did that they did in envy of great Caesar.

He only, in a general honest thought

And common good to all, made one of them.

His life was gentle, and the elements

Antony

Brutus was the noblest Roman of them all. All the other conspirators did what they did because they envied Caesar. He alone became one of them because of honest concern for the greater good. He was noble in his life, and he well rounded that Nature itself might stand up and proclaim to the world, "Now this was a real man!"

Octavius

Let us treat him as his virtue requires, and give him a respectful burial with all the traditional rites. His body will lie in my tent tonight, like a soldier treated honorably. So call for peace on the battlefield, and let's go to share the glory of this fortunate day.

[Exeunt]

So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up

And say to all the world 'This was a man!'

Discussion

“the noblest Roman of them all”

Discussion

“the noblest Roman of them all”

Antony pays Brutus a high compliment, calling him “the noblest Roman of them all.” Some critics suggest that his real motive is to win over Brutus’ officers to his side. Antony employed a similarly deceptive strategy after Caesar’s death, when he pretended to make peace with the assassins, all the while planning to take his revenge by enraging the plebeians against them.

But you can also take Antony’s compliment at face value. Perhaps it only seems suspicious to us because our image of war stems from the two devastating world wars of the 20th century, which bitter conflicts between mutually loathing societies. But in Shakespeare’s time, armed conflict was just one of the normal methods of competition between political rivals. It wouldn’t have seemed unrealistic that a lord might praise the nobility of one of his rivals.